Lock for poison-containers.



L. a. DOWNS.

LOOK POKIOISON CONTAINERS I- APPLIOATIDN FILED :APR. 29, 1914.

3 ,5 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CD PHOTU LITHO-. WASHINGTON, B C.

res.

LEON H. DOWNS, OIE GOSI-IEN, NEW YORK.

LOOK FOR POISON-CONTAINERS.

rieasee.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1315.

Application filed April 29, 1914. Serial 110335223.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be 1t known that I, LEON H. Downs, a citizen of the United States, resldlng at Goshen, in the county of Orange, State of 1 New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Looks for Poison- Containers; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to locks for poison containers and it has for its object to provide an improved and eflicient structure.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which the key cannot be left in the lock to be tampered with by an irresponsible person, as means is provided for the automatic ejection of the key.

Other objects and advantages such as simplicity, cheapness in manufacture, durabilit-y in service, efliciency in operation and the general improvement of the art will be carefully brought out in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device in its open position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof in the same position, Fig. 3 is ajvertical sectional view of the device in its closed position, and Fig. 4 is a similar view with the key inserted and the catch released.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the outer casing of my device, as a whole. This casing comprises a main bottom section 6,

formed preferably rectangular in cross sec tion, to which is hingedly secured, as at 7, a cover section 8 adapted to fit within the section 6. As shown in the drawings, the section 6 is adapted to serve as a base for the device. In order to hold the device in its open position, 1 preferably provide a segmental arm 9 secured upon the edge of the cover section 8 and provided with a notch 10 adapted to engage a pin 11 upon the side of the section 6 when the cover section is opened.

A bottle 12 containing the poison or drug is held upon the inner side of the cover section 8 by means of bands 13 and 14 which encircle the body and neck of the bottle re spectively for preventing it from displacement.

When the device is closed by swinging the cover section 8 down into the section 6, I

the device closed.

provide a novel locking device for holding This locking device comprises a spring catch 15 secured upon the cover 8 and consisting of a spring pressed plate 16 provided upon its ends with'a shoulder 17, the end adjacent the shoulder being rounded. The catch 15 is adapted to coeperate with a stationary member 18. se-

cured upon one end of the section 6 and provided upon its lnner end with a shoulder 19 adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 17 when the cover is closed, and havingthe upper edge at the end beveled. The member 18 is slotted longitudinally as shown at 20 for the reception of a releasingv key 21. which may, if desired be connected with the section 6 by a short chain 22 to prevent its being lost. 1

It will be apparent that when the cover section 8 is pressed down into the section 6, the rounded edge of the plate 16 will engage the beveled edge of the .member 18 and will consequently move inwardly so that the shoulder 17 will pass by the end of the member 18 and engage with the shoulder l9 thereon.

In order to releasethe catch 15 for opening the container, I provide a spring 23 secured atone end within the section 6 and having its other end bent as at 24 and disposed within the slot 20. Normally, the

free end of the spring 23 adjacent the bent portion 24': bears against the end wall of the section 6. 1

From the foregoing it will'be apparent that when the key 21 is pressed into the slot 20 it will force the bent end 24: downupon the plate 16 depressingit and releasing the shoulder 17 from engagement with the shoulder 19. Thecover may then be opened and will remain open until closed by the operator, by virtue, of the segment 9 and pin 11. It will be observed that as the spring 23 presses outwardly, it will automatically eject the key 21 as soon as pressure is re- I moved from the key.

It will be seen that thus I have provided a novel, efficient and safe container which will prevent the contents from being used by mistake as the operation of opening the container would apprisea half-wakeful person of the nature of the contents; and which will prevent accessto the poison by children or other irresponsible persons. 7

It will be readily understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A safety poison container comprising a casing, a cover hinged thereto, and means for locking said casing and said cover to gether, said means comprising a slotted member secured upon said casing, a shoulder on the free end of said member, a spring pressed plate on said cover, a shoulder on said plate adapted to engage said first named shoulder when the cover is closed, and means for releasing the engagement of said shoulders, said means comprising a key adapted to be passed through said slot and engage said plate.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the 2. A safety poison container comprising a casing, a cover hinged thereto, a spring pressed plate secured on said cover and pro vided with a shoulder, a slotted member se cured on said casing and provided with a shoulder adapted to engage said first named shoulder, a spring secured upon said casing and having its outwardly pressing free end disposed Within said slot, and a removable key for pressing said spring i.nto engag e ment with said plate for disengaging said shoulders.

In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEON H. DOWNS.

Witnesses BURT L. DOWNS, H. S. CrrAnDAvoYNE.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

